Not to be crude, but for the some people who think it sounds good, and let's just admit it, it was likely the majority... they will never understand your pain or why it bothers you.  

To make them really get it you have to use props.  

Prop one, the toilet bowel brush.  Bowel brush = how it sounds.  Prop two, asshole.  Asshole = ears.   Now, for those who need a demonstration we just wind a voice coil around the handle of prop one.  In this instance we find that the subject will often prefer that we turn the music volume down as opposed to up and they generally get it pretty quickly.  

For example, they admit that the lower the volume, the longer they can tolerate it, but if you start really cranking it, it's time to visit the parking lot.

If you want to see how long this attitude has been brewing, you can reference my article about the "Nutcracker" located here:  https://www.decware.com/paper05.htm

Steve,

I bought your original "Rachel" which was a 7 watt SET with dual output transformers and could be run in 4 different configurations.  It earned the "Rachel" status because it had dual volume controls.  You used a 4 channel ALPS potentiometer on each side and it had the perfect feel to its "clicks" or steps which numbered 20 levels of volume.

Do you still offer that ALPS potentiometer in tube gear?  I have decided to do a custom ZBox and want to use the stepped ALPS for the volume control.

Thanks Steve!  :)

Cor